The state Board of Education published notice in the June 5 PA Bulletin asking for comment on proposed education standards that eliminate the current Environment, Ecology and Agriculture Education Standards in K-12 education.

By Anna R. Pauletta, PA Student Member, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Board Of Trustees

There are 21 new stories in this week’s PA Environment Digest about advocating for resources to restore and protect the environment, environmental education, permanently preserving land and threatened plants, a celebration of helping landowners protect natural resources, wildlife conservation and project, linking senior communities with organic farming, supporting students in environmental career, promoting technical innovation and much more.

The May newsletter from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition includes an update on Wild Waterways Conservancy activities and a recent environmental education visit to seventh graders.

The Juniata County Conservation District, Juniata Watershed Alliance and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay are seeking volunteers to become Riparian Rangers to help monitor and maintain riparian stream buffers in the county.

The latest newsletter from the Pike County Conservation District celebrates 65 years of the district helping landowners, individuals and many others protect the natural resources of Pike County.  Read more here.

The Rodale Institute and Cornwall Manor senior community in Lebanon County are partnering to establish a 2-acre certified organic farm located adjacent to the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail on Cornwall Manor's Woods campus.

On June 2, the Growing Greener Coalition wrote to all members of the Senate, House and to Gov. Wolf urging them to consider using a share of the state's federal American Rescue Plan funds to invest in much needed water and green infrastructure to revitalize the economy across the state.

On June 1, WeConservePA encouraged local land trusts, environmental, watershed and recreation groups to work with their county and local governments to help them invest federal American Rescue relief funds in watershed restoration, land conservation, park and trail improvement projects.

The Environmental Quality Board is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting June 15 to consider whether to move ahead with a DEP recommendation to develop a proposed regulation setting a Maximum Contaminant Level for PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid).

On June 3, The Department of Environmental Protection released the complete and final list of results of samples collected from public water systems which do not indicate widespread PFAS contamination in those systems.

DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting June 15 to hear presentations on energy storage in Pennsylvania, a summary of the 2021 climate impacts assessment and clean energy workforce needs.

From March 16, 2020 to June 1, 2021 Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

WeConservePA is now accepting registrations for the 2021 Greenways and Trails Summit to be held September 19-21 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. The theme this year is Blue, Green & Everything in Between: Connecting PA’s Land and Water Trails.

On June 1, Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell reminded Pennsylvanians that tick-borne diseases are present across the state, encouraged residents to seek treatment if they have been bitten by a tick and provided tips to prevent tick bites from occurring.

On June 1, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the transfer of 532 acres of forestland along the Clarion National Wild and Scenic River near Ridgway in Elk County to the U.S. Forest Service to become a new addition to the Allegheny National Forest.

On June 1, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the formal designation of a new Wild Plant Sanctuary in Allegheny County.

DCNR's PA Outdoor Corps is accepting applications for Summer Youth Corps in Erie, Greensburg, McConnellsburg, Philadelphia and St. Mary's until June 111.

The Northeast Environmental Partners are now accepting nominations for for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Awards; the Thomas P. Shelburne Award and the Emerging Environmental Leader Award.   The deadline for nominations is June 30.

[ Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] What a difference 11 weeks makes!  At the beginning of March, Pennsylvania faced a state budget deficit of $2.5 to $3.5 billion by everyone’s estimates [Read more here]; COVID percent positivity was at 5.7 percent, but starting to drop; Gov. Wolf just started easing gathering limits on businesses slightly; and a new Vaccine Task Force was helping get the sluggish vaccination plan moving [Read more here].

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is scheduled to meet June 7 to consider Senate Bill 465 (Yaw-R-Lycoming, Comitta-D-Chester) which would establish an Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), providing funding and technical support to expand on-farm conservation practices throughout Pennsylvania, including high-priority areas such as the Chesapeake Bay Watershed [if funded].

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet June 8 on House Bill 637 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) which takes away DEP’s authority to adopt carbon pollution reduction programs covering power plants and any other source.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing June 22 on “Pennsylvania CO2 and Climate.”

On June 4, Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, announced plans to introduce legislation to invest the proceeds from the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants (RGGI) in efforts to help communities and workers during the transition to clean energy, environmental justice areas and other initiatives.

On June 3, Rep. Aaron Kaufer introduced bipartisan legislation-- House Bill 1555-- authorizing community solar projects which allow neighbors, businesses, farms, and other community members to directly participate in and receive the benefits from a solar project connected to their local electric distribution company’s grid.

On June 3, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $9.6 million in grants to support the restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

On June 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of 151 communities to receive 154 grant awards totaling $66.5 million in Brownfields funding through its Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) Grants.

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority and DEP published a notice in June 5 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the Intended Use Plans for the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Fund Programs.  Read more here.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the June 5 PA Bulletin it has received a proposal under the Environmental Good Samaritan Act to treat abandoned mine drainage from the Spruell Pipe in Stewart Township, Fayette County.  (PA Bulletin page 3164)

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, and The GIANT Company, are now accepting applications for the Healing the Planet Grant Program, a competitive grant for tax exempt organizations that aim to build environmental stewardship by connecting people and families to community green spaces, improve community green spaces, support environmental restoration efforts and support community gardens.

The PA State Association of Township Supervisors is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2021 PSATS Stormwater Conference to be held in four locations around the state from September 14 to 29.

Penn State Extension will hold another in its series of Water Cooler Talk webinars on June 30 - A Snapshot of Rural Drinking Water - from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

On May 27, PA American Water announced 10 students from across Pennsylvania have been selected to receive $1,000 scholarships through the company’s Stream of Learning Scholarship Program.

On June 1, PA American Water announced the winners of its 19th Annual Protect Our Watersheds Art Contest, with a sixth-grade student from Allegheny County scoring top honors.

On June 1, Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman urged property owners to consider purchasing flood insurance to protect their homes, businesses, and possessions.

On June 3, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has approved the application by Keystone Sanitary Landfill, Inc. to expand its facility in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop in Lackawanna County.

The PA Resources Council and the Audubon Society of Western PA will hold an electronics waste recycling event on June 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Freeport Middle School in Sarver.  The event will serve residents of Armstrong and Butler counties.

The Northeast Recycling Council is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Environmental Sustainability Leadership Award.  The deadline for nominations is August 13.

On June 1, the Department of Community and Economic Development announced the award of a $262,500 Industrial Sites Reuse Program grant to the Berks County Industrial Development Authority for environmental remediation to revitalize the site of a former Berks County pistol range in Bern Township, Berks County.

On June 1, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has executed a consent assessment of civil penalty (CACP) with Olympus Energy, LLC for erosion and sedimentation violations that occurred in 2019 at the operator’s Plutus well pad and Ceto tank pad located in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County.

The Department of Environmental Protection published a series of four notices in the June 5 PA Bulletin related to Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Revolution natural gas pipeline.  (PA Bulletin, page 3183)

The Public Utility Commission published a notice in the June 5 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed regulation to require regular reporting on diversity programs and efforts by major utilities under the Commission’s jurisdiction.

On June 1, the Public Utility Commission reminded electric customers that all the state’s electric distribution companies (EDCs) are increasing electric generation prices on June 1 for non-shopping customers. 

On June 2, PJM Interconnection announced the successful procurement, through its annual capacity auction, of competitive and affordable power supplies for the 65 million people PJM serves.

On June 2, The Hershey Company released its 2020 Sustainability Report, highlighting its progress on key environmental and social initiatives during a year of unprecedented challenges.

By Jennifer Matthews, Penn State News

Ben Franklin Technology Partners, an award-winning, tech-based economic development program, is offering emerging entrepreneurs, tech innovators and small manufacturers developing new products, processes or software applications the chance to win up to $50,000 by competing in the BIG IDEA Contest.

The PA Environmental Council’s In Case You Missed It In May is now available featuring articles about--

On June 3, the Fish and Boat Commission awarded $158,945 through the R3 Education Grant Program to support eight education projects in eight counties and one statewide effort. 

The June 4 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

On June 4, the Game Commission announced it is designating Warren County a Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area after a captive deer tested positive for the disease at a hunting preserve.

On June 2, the Department of Environmental Protection announced Erin Wells as the new Director of the Northwest Regional Office.

Click Here: Week’s Worth Of PA Environment & Energy NewsClips

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the 73 page PA Environment Digest.

Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.